The Healing Power of Ma and the Mind-Body Connection in Japanese Psychotherapies – Focusing on Morita Therapy, Naikan Therapy and Dohsa-hou

Abstract

This review commends Velizara Chervenkova’s scholarly work for its thorough and nuanced exploration of three Japanese psychotherapies: Morita Therapy, Naikan Therapy and Dohsa-hou within their cultural and philosophical contexts. The book effectively elucidates the role of silence (ma) and mind-body interconnectedness as core therapeutic mechanisms, and demonstrates their applicability beyond Japa-nese populations through case studies and cross-cultural analysis. Positioned as a valuable successor to earlier foundational texts, the work contributes significantly to the global understanding and dissemination of Japanese psychotherapies.